Results: Foot and mouth disease (FMD)-RNA extract was not found in all the blood tested with beta-actin range of Ct = 30-34. rRT-PCR assay showed two positive samples with Ct values of 18.79 and 15.28. Gel electrophoresis identified sequenced PCR amplicons as serotype A and SAT 2 respectively. Direct product sequencing confirmed SAT 2 serotype was closely related to SAT 2 isolate LIB/7/2003. Cloned RT-PCR product in pGEM-T easy vector confirmed serotype A as closely related to sequence of A/NIG/21/2009, though multiple NIG/2009 sequences were also identified as closely related. Both isolates showed marked genetic homogeneity with >93% genetic identity in the VP1 region which confirmed heterogeneity and antigenic variation nature of FMDV.

Conclusion: Quasi species and subtypes of FMD serotypes A and SAT 2 similar to A/NIG/21/2009 and SAT 2/LIB/7/2003 respectively caused the reported FMD outbreaks in Fulani livestock herds investigated. A combined real-time and optimized RT-PCR protocols that would facilitate effective and timely FMD outbreak control plan based on identified serotypes is thus suggested.

8. Olabode, H.O.K. (2012) Foot and mouth disease in Nigeria: The current status and control efforts. A Paper presented at the global foot and mouth disease research alliance workshop organized by ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, held at Hazy-view, Kurger National Park, South Africa on the 17th-19th April, 2012. Available from: http://www.ars.usda.gov/GFRA/presentations/Session3/3.4OlabodeFMD%20POWERPOINT.pdf.

25. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2012) Foot-and-Mouth disease caused by serotype SAT2 in Egypt and Libya: A regional concern for animal health in North Africa and the Middle East. EMPRES WATCH, Vol. 25, March 2012. Rome.

Effect of selenium on the development of selected indicators of fertility in dairy cows - A. Balicka-Ramisz and G. Jastrzębski

Veterinary World, 7(10): 863-867

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2014.863-867

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine selenium (Se) concentration in the blood serum of dairy cows and to establish its influence on the level of production and reproduction traits.

Materials and Methods: The study was performed on the farm located in Western Pomerania - Poland and involved 120 cows, which were selected using the analog method on the basis of their physiological state, lactation number, milk yield, age, and genotype. The following indices were analyzed in individual groups: Calving interval, gestation interval, insemination index, standstill of placenta. Se concentration in the blood serum was determined with the spectrofluorometric method.

Results: The mean serum Se concentration was in cows 0.038 μg/ml. The use of Se preparations has raised fertility, which was documented statistically.

Conclusion: The study revealed that the problem of Se deficiency is still present in some dairy cattle herds in Western Pomerania - Poland.

Aim: The aim was to study the chromosome analysis of arsenic affected cattle.

Materials and Methods: 27 female cattle (21 arsenic affected and 6 normal) were selected for cytogenetical study. The blood samples were collected, incubated, and cultured using appropriate media and specific methods. The samples were analyzed for chromosome number and morphology, relative length of the chromosome, arm ratio, and centromere index of X chromosome and chromosomal abnormalities in arsenic affected cattle to that of normal ones.

Results: The diploid number of metaphase chromosomes in arsenic affected cattle as well as in normal cattle were all 2n=60, 58 being autosomes and 2 being sex chromosomes. From the centromeric position, karyotyping studies revealed that all the 29 pair of autosomes was found to be acrocentric or telocentric, and the sex chromosomes (XX) were submetacentric in both normal and arsenic affected cattle. The relative length of all the autosome pairs and sex chrosomosome pair was found to be higher in normal than that of arsenic affected cattle. The mean arm ratio of X-chromosome was higher in normal than that of arsenic affected cattle, but it is reverse in case of centromere index value of X-chromosome. There was no significant difference of arm ratio and centromere index of X-chromosomes between arsenic affected and normal cattle. No chromosomal abnormalities were found in arsenic affected cattle.

Conclusion: The chromosome analysis of arsenic affected cattle in West Bengal reported for the first time in this present study which may serve as a guideline for future studies in other species. These reference values will also help in comparison of cytological studies of arsenic affected cattle to that of various toxicants.

Aim: The objective of this study was to know the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in Mithun in Arunachal Pradesh.

Materials and Methods: Approximately, 10 g of feces was collected from recently voided feces in airtight fecal collection vials (HiMedia, India). Fecal samples were subjected to the direct method and centrifuge flotation method for finding out parasitic ova. The ova were identified on the basis of morphological characters described by Soulsby, 1982.

Result: A total of 78 fecal samples were collected. Of 78, 44 (56.41%) samples were found positive. Most of the positive fecal sample showed mixed infection of different helminths parasites egg. Fasciola spp. and Amphistome spp. were the two predominant parasites among the flukes. In nematodes infection, Toxocara vitulorum was the least prevalent GI nematodes. In the case of cestodes Moniezia expansa was little higher (14%) in semi-intensive.

Conclusion: The present study reveals that Mithun is infected by several GI parasites. Among trematodes, Fasciola, and Amphistomes are predominantly spp. whereas, Strongyle and Trichuris are more prevalent spp. among nematodes and Moniezia among cestodes parasites.

Aim: The present study was conducted to estimate genetic distance, the phylogenetic relationship, and time of divergences using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

Materials and Methods: The total 216 unrelated samples were collected from native breeding tract of six Indian sheep breeds. The genomic DNA was isolated and screened for restriction enzyme polymorphisms for cytochrome b (Cyt-b) region of mtDNA with seven restriction enzymes.

Results: The genetic distance among sheep breeds was ranging between 0.02833 and 0.0946. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Malpura and Chokla were found closer relationship forming distinct cluster followed by Deccani individual were clustered with Nellore sheep, whereas Nali and Sonadi were distant to each other having separate cluster. Estimated divergence time among Indian sheep breeds were ranging about 1.41-4.73 million years ago (MYA) with an average of 3.063±0.27 MYA. It showed that Malpura and Sonadi sheep revealed highest divergence time as 4.73 MYA whereas Malpura and Chokla show the lowest as 1.41 MYA.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the restriction fragment length polymorphisms-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) of the Cyt-b region of mtDNA is suitable and cost effective tool for estimating the genetic variability, phylogenetic relationship, and time of divergence among Indian sheep breeds. These findings will help to formulate proper breeding strategies for conservation and utilization of sheep breeds.

Materials and Methods: C. chauvoei was cultured and confirmed by 16-23S rDNA spacer region primers. The primers for nad-bhbd gene ofC. chauvoei were designed to aid in cloning into pRham-N-His SUMO-Kan vector, and nad-bhbd gene was amplified by PCR. The amplifiednad-bhbd gene was purified and cloned into pRham-N-His SUMO-Kan expression vector. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. cloni 10 G cells and the clone was confirmed by colony PCR using the pRham-SUMO-NAD-For and pRham-SUMO-NAD-Rev primers and also by sequencing.

Results: PCR amplification of nad-bhbd gene yielded a product length of 844 base pairs which was cloned into pRham-NHis SUMO-Kan vector followed by transformation into E. cloni 10G chemically competent cells. The recombinant clones were characterized by colony PCR, sequencing, followed by basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analysis to confirm the insert.

Conclusions: Immunogenic protein NAD- dependent BHBD of C. chauvoei was cloned and the recombinant clones were confirmed by colony PCR and sequencing analysis.

Premature disposal of female calves before reaching milch herd and undesirable disposal of lactating cows are the major constraints in achieving larger herd size. During the early lactations, younger cows are supposed to give higher milk yield and undesirable disposal of early calvers, thereby, greatly hampers profitability of a dairy farm. Knowledge of the incidence of disposal along with reasons in various age groups and at various parities is essential to identify which age group or parity is more vulnerable for disposal. Moreover, knowledge of various genetic and non-genetic factors associated with disposal of animals may also be helpful in developing breeding and management strategies to reduce the incidence of disposal. In most of the studies, it was found that major reasons of disposal of dairy cattle were mortality among female calves and involuntary culling among adult lactating cows. Maximum mortality in female calves was observed during earlier ages and pneumonia, gastro-enteritis and debility were major reasons of female calf mortality. Whereas, most of the adult cows left the herd, due to teat and udder and reproductive problems. Moreover, indigenous breeds were found to be more adapted to Indian tropical climatic conditions in comparison to crossbred and exotic cattle breeds.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the electrocardiographic (ECG), hematological and clinico-biochemical effects of two balanced anesthetic protocols in dogs.

Materials and Methods: A total of 20 clinical cases of dogs, randomly divided into two groups of 10 animals each were made part of study. All dogs were premedicated with injection atropine sulfate @ 0.04 mg/kg body weight (b. wt.) subcutaneously followed 15 min later with injection butorphanol tartarate @ 0.2 mg/kg b. wt. intravenous (IV). Subsequently after 10 min premedicated with injection diazepam @ 0.5 mg/kg b. wt. IV (Group DP) or injection acepromazine maleate @ 0.015 mg/kg b. wt. IV (Group AP) followed by injection propofol “till effect” IV for induction of surgical anesthesia. The animals were immediately transferred to halothane in oxygen. Observations recorded in dogs included ECG recordings, hematological and clinico-biochemical observations at various time intervals.

Results: No arrhythmia was observed in any animal pre-operatively and intra-operatively in any of the groups. Significant fall in packed cell volume (PCV) and total erythrocyte count occurred in DP group in early phase, whereas only PCV decreased significantly in AP group. Biochemical parameters were non-significant in both the groups.

Conclusion: Both diazepam-butorphanol-propofol-halothane and acepromazine-butorphanol-propofol-halothane are safe with respect to their ECG, hematological and biochemical effects in clinical cases.

Materials and Methods: A total of 2904 fortnightly milk yield (FMY) records from 132 Frieswal cattle maintained at Military Farm, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh were taken for study. The Wood (WD), Morant and Gnanasakthy (MG), Mitscherlich x Exponential (ME), and Wilmink (WK) models were fitted on average FMY (AFMY) by nonlinear regression using statistical package SAS 9.3 version. The goodness of fit of models was judged by the adjusted coefficient of determination (Adj. R2) and root mean square error.

Results: The AFMY ranges from 127.09 kg (first fortnight) to 110.04 kg (last fortnight) with peak fortnight yield of 189.51 kg and peak period at fourth fortnight. Predicted peak yield by different models ranges from 182.7 to 190.2 kg. The herd average milk yield was predicted with a high degree of accuracy (Adj. R2>92%) by all models with the maximum accuracy (Adj. R2=99.20%) obtained by ME model followed by MG (Adj. R2=98.8%) and WK model (Adj. R2=96.0%).

Materials and Methods: Four adult buffaloes were exposed at 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, and 40°C for 21 days at every treatment in environmentally controlled chamber and physio-biochemical variation and animal behavior was observed.

Conclusion: The results reflect the impact of hyperthermia both acute and chronic, on the animals forcing various physiobiochemical, endocrinal, and behavioral changes for acclimatization during a stressful period aimed at maintaining homeothermy.

Aim: To study the prevalence of Rotavirus in shellfish from Southern Kerala.

Materials and Methods: The shellfish samples after processing was concentrated using proteinase K. RNA was isolated from the concentrated samples using phenol chloroform method. Rota viral RNA was detected using reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction.

Results: A low prevalence of 2.5% (5/200) was obtained during the study. Rotavirus was detected in 2 out of 60 brown mussels (3.33%), 2 out of 70 yellow clams (2.86%) and 1 out of 70 black clams (1.43%).

Conclusion: Low prevalence of Rotavirus was obtained in our study. A more extensive study need to be conducted to estimate the prevalence of enteric virus in shellfish.

Aim: To study the effect of uterine immunomodulation on hematobiochemical parameters and total immunoglobulin concentration in cyclic non-breeding cows.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-one repeat breeding cows around Bhubaneswar area were screened by white side test to detect and treat the endometritis and were assigned to three treatment protocols with an equal number of seven animals in each group. Cows in control group were administered with 50 ml of normal saline while treatment Group I animals were given single intrauterine infusion of 20 ml of fresh colostrum and treatment Group II animals received nonpathogenic Escherichia coli in 10 ml sterile saline. The blood samples were collected from all the experimental animals, and hematobiochemical parameters and total immunoglobulin concentration were estimated.

Results: A high significant difference (p<0.01) was accounted in lymphocyte count of E. coli treated group within different days of sampling. Analysis of variance recorded a highly significant difference with neutrophil percent in E. coli lavaged cows. In colostrum treated group monocyte count showed a significant difference (p<0.01) between 0 and 14th day of sampling. The analysis of hematocrit values did not show any significant difference apart from the erythrocyte sedimentation rate parameter in the colostrum infused group with the highest significant (p<0.01) variation being observed between 7th and 14th day of sampling. The analysis of aspartate amino transferase values in the colostrum lavaged cows revealed a significant difference, but that of alanine amino transferase values did not show any significant difference. Comparison of immunoglobulin values for different days in all the treatment protocol revealed a highly significant (p<0.05) difference within various days of sampling.

Conclusion: In the present study, the local immunomodulation by different agents have been highlighted and which indicated potentiation of uterine immunity by different drug that might serve as a new direction of treatment to uterine diseases. The scope of research in the future should be widened by considering a larger population for validation.

Aim: Formalin fixing and paraffin embedding of tissue samples is one of the techniques for preserving the structural integrity of cells for a very long time. However, extraction and analysis of genomic material from formalin fixed tissue (FFT) remains a challenge despite numerous attempts to develop a more effective method. The success of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) depends on the quality of DNA extract.

Results: An average A260/A280 DNA purity of 0.86-1.68 and 3.22-5.32 μg DNA/mg for formalin fixed and non-fixed tissues, respectively using a conventional method. In a reproducible and three times repeat PCR, the ASFV DNA expected product size of 278 bp was obtained from the DNA extract of the conventional method but not from the DNA extract of the commercial kits.

Conclusion: The present study has demonstrated that the conventional method extracts ASFV genome better than commercial kit. In summary, the commercial kit extraction appeared not suitable to purify ASFV DNA from FFT. We, therefore, recommend that the use of the conventional method be considered for African swine fever DNA extraction from FFT.

Conclusions: No significant association between SNP “rs109231409” with mastitis tolerance was found. Although there is a lack of association, further studies have to be undertaken in a large population in order to validate the impact of rs109231409 (g.855G >A) on mastitis tolerance.